Support cradle for bowling balls

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a support cradle ( 1 ) for bowling balls ( 3 ). Such a support cradle comprises a support surface ( 2 ) adapted to a bowling ball and carried by a frame ( 4 ). The support cradle also comprises a bottom cup ( 7 ) disposed to join the support surface substantially tightly. The support surface adopts a shape that substantially corresponds to the geometry of the spherical surface ( 8 ) of the bowling ball ( 3 ). In this connection, the support surface and the bowling ball fitted on this are disposed to form together a substantially tight joint. The support cradle also comprises a connection ( 9 ) for compressed fluid for introducing said compressed fluid through the connection in the support cradle, the compressed fluid introduced in the support cradle ( 1 ) forming a compressed-fluid cushion between the support surface and the bowling ball. In this manner, the bowling ball is allowed to turn in any direction virtually frictionless.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a support cradle for bowling balls as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Such a support cradle is conceived for use primarily in grinding, polishing and cleaning of bowling balls.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

The present invention has made it possible to develop a practical and handy support especially for bowling balls. In this connection, the invention has the characteristics defined in claim 1. The subsequent dependent claims define appropriate further developments and variants of the invention, which further enhance its function.

The invention is based on the idea that, using a simple cup-shaped support, a bowling ball is maintained in the desired stable position during grinding, polishing or cleaning, and by contrast, when one wishes to turn the ball in the desired direction in order to be able to work all the parts of the surface, friction against the support surface is eliminated by lifting the ball by means of a compressed-air cushion or a fluid cushion.

The device described in the present invention achieves several significant benefits over prior art.

The support cradle has a very straightforward and economical design and it can, for example, be injection moulded in a single piece.

In addition, the support cradle has no movable parts and it also has a very simple function.

The support cradle is small-sized, light and requires small space during transport, use and storage.

Owing to its inexpensive and simple construction, the support cradle is also suitable for passive use as a packing support, a storage support and as a display support in ball demonstrations and shows for sales purposes, for instance.

Further advantages and details of the invention will become more apparent from the following description.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows an axonometric projection of a preferred embodiment of a support cradle for bowling balls,

FIG. 2 shows a section of a support cradle in accordance with FIG. 1 along the line A-A with a bowling ball placed in it,

FIG. 3 shows an axonometric projection of an embodiment of a support cradle for bowling balls with a dust exhaustion connection,

FIG. 4 shows a section of a support cradle in accordance with FIG. 3 along the line B-B with a bowling ball placed in it,

FIG. 5 shows a construction detail in accordance with detail C in FIG. 4 with a dust exhaustion duct, and

FIG. 6 shows an alternative construction detail at detail C of FIG. 4 with a dust exhaustion duct and a brush connected to this.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figures mentioned above do not show the support cradle for bowling balls to scale, their sole task being to illustrate the constructive solutions of the preferred embodiment and the function of the embodiment. In this connection, the constructive parts shown in the figures and marked with reference numerals correspond to the construction solutions presented in the description below.

The special embodiment of the present support cradle 1 for bowling balls shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise a support surface 2, which is advantageously shaped as a spherical belt. This support surface is specially adapted for receiving a bowling ball 3. The support surface is carried by a frame 4 joining the upper edge 5 of the curved surface of the support surface via an outer support ring or rim 6. At the opposite lower edge of the spherical belt, the support cradle comprises a bottom cup 7, which is disposed to join the support surface substantially tightly so as to form an impervious cup in this manner.

The primary idea of the present support cradle 1 is its usability in grinding, polishing and cleaning of bowling balls 3. When it is desirable that the bowling ball sit firmly during grinding, the ball is allowed to bear against the support surface 2 of the support cradle, and then friction between the ball and the support surface will principally prevent rotation of the bowling ball. On the other hand, if it is desirable to allow rotation of the ball, or to be able to turn the ball in the process, the ball needs to be lifted from the support surface. This is done by producing an air cushion or a water cushion between the support surface 2 and the surface 8 of the bowling ball. Such an air cushion or water cushion makes the bowling ball rise from the support surface, thus eliminating friction against the support surface and allowing the bowling ball to turn virtually frictionless in any direction.

In order to produce a compressed-fluid cushion that is able to lift the bowling ball 3, in the form of the air cushion or water cushion mentioned above, for instance, a compressed fluid needs to be introduced in the support cradle 1. For compressed fluid to be introduced in the support cradle, the support cradle advantageously comprises a special connection 9 for compressed fluid, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. If the support surface 2 and the bottom cup 7 jointly form a substantially uniform hemispherical surface, this connection is preferably placed in the centre of the support surface or the cup formed by this. By contrast, if the bottom cup is slightly lowered relative to the support surface shaped as a spherical belt, as shown in the accompanying figures, the connection can be placed anywhere within the lowered part.

Such a connection 9 for compressed fluid is advantageously provided with means for pressure control and/or flow control. Such a means known per se may, for instance, consist of a pump, which may be a separate electrically driven pump, or a separate manually operated pump.

The compressed fluid to be introduced in the support cradle 1 may consist of compressed air as well as of water. The compressed air can be advantageously utilised by connecting the compressed-fluid connection to a stationary compressed-air network. On the other hand, water is most conveniently utilised by connecting the compressed-fluid connection to a pressurised water distribution network.

To produce said compressed-fluid cushion, the spherical belt of the support surface 2 also adopts a shape that corresponds substantially to the geometry of the spherical surface 8 of the bowling ball 3. The support surface and the bowling ball fitted on this will thus together form a substantially tight connection, the compressed fluid introduced in the support cradle being disposed to form the required compressed-fluid cushion between the support surface and the bowling ball.

A specially advantageous embodiment of the support cradle 1 is achieved, when the upper edge 5 of the support surface 2 has an outer diameter in the range 0.6 to 0.9×the diameter of the bowling ball 3, preferably 0.8×the diameter of the bowling ball.

In one embodiment, in which the support surface 2 consists of a spherical belt, it should have a height H such that the curvature length it defines in the spherical belt exceeds the maximum diameter of the grip holes provided in the bowling ball 3. The purpose of this is to avoid air leakage as a grip hole passes by the support surface when the bowling ball is rotated.

In order to reduce the exact fitting requirement, the central portion of the support surface 2, i.e. the bottom cup 7 connected to it, can be lowered relative to the spherical belt and the mean diameter of the bowling ball, so that the bowling ball bears only against the annular spherical belt forming the resulting support surface. Such lowering can advantageously be in the range 1 to 5 mm. In such a design, a threshold 10 is consequently formed between the surfaces of the spherical belt and the bottom cup, respectively, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The lowering of the bottom cup will result in a gap 11 between the surface of the bottom cup and the surface 8 of the bowling ball. This gap can be advantageously utilised for more effective distribution of the compressed fluid introduced in the support cradle.

During grinding, polishing and cleaning of a bowling ball 3, the connection 9 of the support cradle 1 for compressed fluid is advantageously connected to an existing compressed-air network or a water pipe. By regulating the pressure to an appropriate level and installing a valve on the connecting pipe, the function can be controlled as necessary, for instance with the foot during grinding. It is also possible to use an appropriate foot pump, which is connected directly to the compressed-fluid connection of the support cradle. Thus, when one wishes to turn the bowling ball, he steps momentarily on the pump or the valve while turning the ball as necessary.

If no compressed-air network is available, it is also possible to use a portable electrically driven air compressor, which can be operated by means of an appropriate foot valve in order to produce the air cushion under the ball when the ball needs to be turned. Using a pressure reducing valve and with the aid of compressed air, the pressure can, as necessary, be set so as to allow continuous turning and rotation of the ball.

Water is used especially if it is desirable to carry out grinding as wet grinding, thus providing simultaneous wetting of the surface of the bowling ball during its rotation.

As a bowling ball 3 is ground and compressed air is used, especially maintaining continuously an air cushion under the ball, dust is simultaneously blown up from the ball. In order to reduce this inconvenience, the support can be provided with a ring 12 positioned outside the support surface 2. Such an embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. This ring may constitute a separate part, which can be readily connected to the frame of the support cradle in accordance with FIG. 4. The ring may naturally also be formed as an integrated part of the support cradle.

In addition, said ring 12 can jointly with the frame 4 of the support surface form a conduit 13 around and outside the support surface 2, the ring being disposed to seal against the surface 8 of the bowling ball fitted in the support cradle. Air and dust can be evacuated from the conduit by means of a dust exhaustion device or a separate dust cleaner, which is connected to a special connecting means 14 for such a device. The air that would normally blow dust from the ball surface out in the room will thus be captured by the exhaustion device and then filtered. The ring should be located close to the support surface in order to provide a narrow conduit. With a conduit having excessive width, depression will immoderately counteract the lifting force generated against the support surface.

The ring 12 can advantageously also be provided with an annular brush 15, which appropriately seals against the surface 8 of the bowling ball 3 as shown in FIG. 6.

The description above and the figures referred to in the description are merely intended as illustration of the present solution for the design of a support cradle for bowling balls. Consequently, the solution is not only restricted to the embodiment described above or in the accompanying claims, a plurality of variations or alternative embodiments being possible without departing from the idea described in the accompanying claims. 

1. A support cradle for bowling balls, the support cradle comprising a support surface adapted to maintain a bowling ball in stable position, the support surface being carried by a frame, and the support cradle comprising additionally a connection for a compressed fluid for introducing said compressed fluid through the connection in the support cradle, and that the compressed fluid introduced in the support cradle is disposed to form a compressed-fluid cushion between the support surface and the bowling ball, thus allowing the bowling ball to turn virtually frictionless in any direction, wherein the support cradle comprises a bottom cup disposed to join the support surface substantially tightly, the support surface being shaped as a spherical belt, and that the spherical belt of the support surface adopts a shape that substantially corresponds to the geometry of the spherical surface of the bowling ball, so that the support surface and the bowling ball fitted on this are disposed to form together a substantially impervious joint, the bottom cup being lowered relative to the spherical belt of the support surface, so that the connection is placed within the lowered bottom cup to allow the bowling ball to turn by means of a momentary regulation of the compressed-fluid flow.
 2. A support cradle as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom cup has a substantially spherical shape, the bottom cup comprised in the support cradle and the support surface jointly forming a substantially uniform hemisphere.
 3. A support cradle as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom cup is lowered relative to the spherical belt of the support surface by 1 to 5 mm.
 4. A support cradle as defined in claim 1, wherein the compressed fluid comprises compressed air.
 5. A support cradle as defined in claim 4, compressed-fluid connection is connected to a stationary compressed-air network.
 6. A support cradle as defined in claim 1, wherein the compressed fluid comprises water.
 7. A support cradle as defined in claim 6, wherein the compressed-fluid connection is connected to a pressurised water distribution network.
 8. A support cradle as defined in claim 1 wherein the support cradle comprises a ring disposed to seal outside the support surface against the surface of the bowling ball fitted on the support cradle said ring being disposed together with the frame of the support cradle to form an annular conduit around the support cradle, the conduit comprising means for connecting it to a dust exhaustion device to extract dust, which is blown out under the bowling ball.
 9. A support cradle as defined in claim 8, wherein an edge comprised in the ring and oriented towards the surface of the bowling ball comprises an annular brush.
 10. A support cradle as defined in claim 8, wherein the ring comprises a separate part connected to the frame of the support cradle.
 11. A support cradle as defined in claim 1, wherein the spherical belt of the support surface has a height such that the curvature length it defines in the spherical belt exceeds the maximum diameter of the grip holes provided in the bowling ball. 